The State government of Kerela has sanctioned for the renovation of the Chirakkal Chira pond as part of reviving the 14-acre pond on the outskirts of this town. This was done upon the sanction by the Chirakkal Kovilakam Kshema Parirakshana Samithi.
Rs 2.3 crore has been sanctioned to look into the lake whose current owners is the Chirakkal royal family. the Kolathiri dynasty of the erstwhile feudal state of Kolathunadu, North Malabar.
“Over the past two-and-a-half years I have been trying to get this project sanctioned by the government as the conditions made by the samithi representing the Chirakkal family led to some delay in granting administrative sanction to the project,” Ms. Sreemathy said.
The Chirakkal house had agreed to give consent to the authorities to renovate the pond and to do other works to protect it from further destruction. The scheme to revive the pond was being launched as the State government was giving priority to protection and renovation of water resources, she added.
The huge water body , which belongs to Chirakkal family , can be developed can be potentially be a major water resource. Since water scarcity is increasing each year, authorities are exploring the possibility of developing it as a drinking water resource, without changing its ownership.
The order states that the District Collector should ensure that the public will be allowed to use the pond once the work is finished. Last year, T.M. Thomas Isaac had visited the family and assured them that the renovation and the development of the water body will only take place upon their consultation and consent.
The sanctioned project on the lake would in no way affect its ownership by the Chirakkal Kovilakam. As of now it has been guaranteed that the sanction is only for cleaning the pond and not for implementing any drinking water, tourism and other projects. The pond can continue to be used by the public.